BA blames poor lighting for Blair plane scare

LONDON, Dec 27 (Reuters) British Airways blamed poor lighting at Miami airport for a safety scare involving a jumbo jet carrying Prime Minister Tony Blair and his family.

There were 343 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 747 which missed a runway exit on arrival from London about 0445 hrs IST yesterday, prompting police cars and emergency vehicles to rush to the scene.

''The plane overshot the runway by a little bit. There was no damage to the plane and no injuries to the passengers,'' Miami airport spokesman Marc Henderson said. ''The plane did not go into the grass but they were off the end of the runway.'' A spokesman for Blair said: ''There was a minor incident. The prime minister is absolutely fine. They are getting on with their holiday now.'' A BA spokesman said the pilot landed exactly as he should have done but the turn-off from the runway was not well lit.

''Apparently they're doing some resurfacing work and relighting, so the lighting was poor,'' said BA spokesman John Lampl.

Passengers told local media the airliner broke a couple of lights on the runway, and police and emergency vehicles surrounded the plane.

The BA spokeswoman confirmed that lights were broken but said this occurred while the plane was being towed.

''How would you feel if you saw eight police cars rolling up? You expect the worst,'' one passenger told Miami television station WSVN.

''It was really calm,'' said another. ''We're very English.'' The Miami Herald newspaper reported Blair and his immediate family were flying first class and were to vacation in the Miami area. It said they would stay at the home of former member of the Bee Gees, Robin Gibb.

REUTERS SP RAI2332